Tank cap and vent valve



May 23, 1939. RlKE r AL 2,159,178

TANK CAP AND VENT VALVE Filed Aug. 10, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VVENTORS llfREDER/CA' f"- Rnrl: BY Haw/m0 w. WEBB ATTORNEYS Patented May 23, 1939UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TANK CAP AND VENT VALVE Application August10, 1936, Serial No. 35,101

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in 010- sures or caps for tanksfor use with various fluids, for instance gasoline or oil tank trucks,and vent valves therefor.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide a closure for theinlet opening of a gasoline tank truck which will automatically closewhen the tank is moved. This insures the closing of the cap as soon asthe tank is moved, in

case the operator fails to close the same before proceeding on hisjourney.

It is a further object of this invention to provide the tank with a ventand valve, so that in case the pressure in the tank exceeds the del5sired amount, the pressure will open the valve and permit the excesspressure to escape.

A further object of the invention is to provide the tank with a valvewhich will open when gasoline is drawn from the tank so as to admit airto the tank above the gasoline, so that the gasoline will flow out ofthe outlet provided for the tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide the vent for the tankwith a valve which will close automatically, in case the truck turnsover, so as to prevent the escape of gasoline from the tank.

These and other advantages will appear from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a truck carrying a tank provided with twoof our improved closures, one being open and the other closed.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the closure or cap in closed position, withportions of the cap broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in thedirection of the arrows and showing the valves for permitting the escapeof excess pressure from the tank, the valve for admitting air to thetank, and the valve for closing the vent in case the tank is turnedover.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-5 of Fig. 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows and showing a portion of the cap and the valvefor closing the vent in case the tank is turned over.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 55 5 of Fig, 3, looking inthe direction of the arrows and showing the valve and passageways foradmitting air to the tank when gasoline is being withdrawn therefrom.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 66 55 of Fig. 3, looking inthe direction of the arrows and showing the seat for the pressure reliefvalve and the guide for the valve stem.

The present invention is adapted to be used with any tank andparticularly such tanks which are utilized to receive fluids at onepoint and 5 convey the same to another and discharge the fluidstherefrom.

The valves employed with our invention are also adapted for use withstationary tanks, to permit the escape of excess pressure and to admit10 air so that the contents can be drawn from the tank. In the drawingsour invention is shown as applied to a gasoline tank truck in which thetank, shown at l, having a discharge valve l is provided with two capsor closures 2, 2 for 15 closing filler openings through which thecontents are supplied to the tank. One of these inlets is shown at 3 inFig. 3. The cap 2 is provided with lugs 4, t through which it is hingedto lugs 5, 5 by the pin 6, retained against dis- 20 placement by a setscrew The lugs 5, 5 are formed on a ring 7 adjustably mounted on a neck8 of the tank I.

The ring i is secured to the neck 3 by a fitting 9 which is threadedinto the upper end of the neck 8 of the tank I. The fitting 3 has lugsif to which a suitable tool can be applied for screwing the fitting intoposition in the neck 8 or removing it therefrom. Near its upper end thefitting 9 has an outwardly extending an- 0 nular flange H which projectsover the ring i. At the upper end of the fitting 9 there is provided aseat i2, over which projects the cap 2. A gasket i3 is placed betweenthe cap 2 and the seat i2 of the fitting 9 to prevent the escape of thegasoline or other liquid between the cap 2 and the fitting 9. An annularflange I i, projecting under the inner edge of the gasket 53, isprovided to retain the gasket in position on the cap 2.

Gaskets l5 and !5 are provided to prevent the escape of gasoline betweenthe ring i, the neck 8 and the fitting 9.

The cap or closure 2 is locked in closed position by the catch l'.',which is pivoted at 58 between lugs l9, l9 on the ring 1. The catch H isheld in looking position by a spring 29 coiled about the pivot 18. Thissoring 20 has one leg 2| bearing against a lug 22 on the ring i. andanother leg 23 hearing against the catch IT. A set screw 24 holds thepivot pin it against displacement. The set screw 24, and the set screw 6are provided with irregularly shaped sockets 6 and Z t respectively, toreceive a tool for inserting and removing the same.

The cap 2 is provided with a retaining member 25, which is engaged bythe catch I! to lock the cap 2 in closed position. This retainingmember, in the form illustrated, is a leaf spring, which has its end 26coiled about the pin 6. The retaining member rests on a cross piece 21carried by upstanding flanges 28, 28 on the cap 2. The flanges 28', 28are provided at their upper ends with laterally extending flanges 29,29.

A cross piece 30 extends between the flanges 29 and over the springretaining member 25. The latter has threaded therein screws 3! (only onebeing shown) for adjusting the pressure of the spring retaining member25. After these adjusting screws are set to provide the desired pressurein the spring retaining member 25 they are locked in position by the setscrews 32, 32,

provided with irregularly shaped sockets 33, 33 for receiving a tool toset these screws.

The ring I is so positioned on the neck 8 of the tank that the pin 6 ofthe cap 2 is at the forward edge of the inlet opening to the tank. Inthis way the cap is pivoted at the forward edge of the inlet to thetank. When this cap 2 is lifted to permit gasoline or other liquid to beplaced in the tank, the cap is swung to such a position that it willremain open without being held. It can be raised so that it will standvertically or it can. be swung forwardly of the vertical. As soon as thecap reaches dead center or is moved forwardly of the dead center, itwill remain open without being held.

After the liquid is placed in the tank, the operator closes the cap andit is locked in position by the catch I I and spring retaining member25. However, if the operator fails to close the cap, the same will beautomatically closed and locked in position as soon as the truck ismoved forwardly, due to the inertia of the cap, which is made quiteheavy. As soon as the cap reaches a position to the rear of dead center,it will close due to its own weight. The end 34 of the retaining member25, which is curved as shown, engages under catch I7, which has a hooknose 35 for this purpose. This locks the cap 2 in position and preventsopening thereof until the operator moves the catch II rearwardly on itspivot I8, against the pressure of the spring 20, to release theretaining member 25, so that the cap can be lifted.

The catch IT has a cam surface H and a cam surface I'I which cooperatewith the curved end 34 of the retaining member 25. This curved end formsan upper and a lower cam surface, 34 and 34 respectively. As the cap 2drops toward the filler opening of the tank, the lower cam surface 34 ofthe retaining member engages the upper cam surface I'I of the catch IT,as the cam surface II is held in the path of the curved end 34 by thespring 20. Further downward movement of the cap, through the engagementof the lower cam surface 34 with the cam surface I'I forces the catchout of the path of the curved end 34 of the retaining member 25. Thecurved end continues to move downwardly until the cam surface I'I on thecatch engages the upper cam surface 34 on the curved end 34 of theretaining member. The spring 20 thereupon moves the catch into lockingposition over the curved end 34. Due to the action of the cam surfaces34 and ll the right hand end of the spring retaining member 25 is forceddownwardly and away from the adjusting screws 3|. This action places thespring retaining member under further tension and securely locks theretaining member and cap in closed position. Thereafter the cap cannotbe opened until the catch I1 is moved to the right. The spring retainingmeans and the spring 20 cooperate to hold the catch in locked positionwhen the cap is closed.

When the cap is open, the spring retaining member 25 bears against theadjusting screws 3|, while this retaining member is moved away fromthese screws as the catch llmoves over the curved end of this member.

Pressure frequently accumulates in tanks of this kind, and to preventthe same we provide a relief Valve 35 above an opening 31 which isconnected to passageways 38, 38, extending into a chamber 39 in the cap2. The opening 31 and passageways 38, 38 are in a fitting 3.! which isthreaded into an annular flange 43 depending from the cap 2. A gasket 4|is provided between the upper part of the fitting 39 and an inwardlyextending shoulder 42 on the flange 48, to make the joint between thefitting 39 and the flange liquid tight. The valve 35 has a stem 36 andit is guided in its movements by a guide 39 carried by the fitting 39 Anaperture 43, opening into the atmosphere, is provided in the cap 2. Itcommunicates with the chamber 39 so as to permit the escape of pressurefrom the tank I when the relief valve 36 opens. As shown by the arrowspointing upwardly in Fig. 3, the pressure escapes through the opening31, around the valve 33 when open, through the passageways 38, thechamber 39 and the aperture 43. A screen 44 is mounted in the chamber 39to prevent the entrance of dirt into the passages 38.

This relief valve 36 prevents the accumulation of pressure in the tankand thereby protects the tank against internal pressure.

When liquid is withdrawn from the tank I, for which purpose the valve 1is provided, it is necessary at times to admit air to the tank so thatthe liquid will discharge therefrom. For this reason a valve 45 isprovided to close the opening 46 in the fitting 39 The opening 46communicates with a chamber 41 formed by the fitting 39 and a plug 48screwed into the fitting 39 The chamber 41 communicates with passageways49 which are in communication with the tank I. The plug 48 is providedwith an upstanding guide 58 for a stem 5I carried by the valve 45. Inthis way the valve 45 is guided in its movements in opening and closingthe opening 46.

The arrows pointing downwardly in Fig. 3 show the path of the air whichis admitted to the tank at such times as that is necessary forWithdrawing liquid from the tank I. This air enters through the opening43, which is in communication with the atmosphere, and thence passesthrough screen 44 and into the chamber 39. It then enters thepassageways 38 and the opening 46. Whenever the pressure in the tank isless than atmospheric pressure, the air in the opening 46 will lift thevalve 45 so as to permit the air to pass this valve. It will then enterthe chamber 4'! and enter the tank I through the passageways 49. Thiswill continue until the a mospheric pressure is unable to lift the valve45 against the pressure in the tank I, whereupon. the Valve 45 willclose the opening 43 and remain closed until the atmospheric pressurecan again raise the valve 45 against the pressure in the tank I.

In case the tank should be turned over, we have made provision forpreventing the escape of the liquid in the tank. For this purpose wehave provided a ball valve which is normally open to the atmosphere toadmit air to the tank I when the valve is open and to permit the escapeof pressure from the tank I when the valve 36 is open. Should the tankturn over, however, the ball valve 52 will close the aperture 43, due toits weight, and thus prevent the escape of liquid from the tank. Thedownward movement of the ball valve 52 is limited by the top of theguide 50, upon which this ball valve rests when the tank is upright.

The plug 48 is also provided with an upstanding flange 53 carryingupstanding ribs 54 between which the air passes on going through thescreen 44. A ring 55 is provided at the upper end of the ribs 54 toconnect them together. The ball valve 52 lies between these ribs 54. Thescreen i44 surrounds the upstanding flange 44a, of the plug 48, the ring55 and the ribs 54.

By our invention we have provided a tank for liquids having:

1. A cap or closure which closes automatically as the tank is moved.

2. Means for permitting the escape of pressure accumulating in the tank.

3. Means for admitting air to the tank when needed to permit the flow ofliquid from the tank.

4. Means for closing the air opening for the tank when the tank isturned over.

It is, of course, to be understood that the use of the term gasoline ismerely illustrative and that we contemplate the use of the principles ofour invention in structures used with other various fluids.

It will likewise be understood that the above described structure ismerely illustrative of one manner in which the principles of ourinvention may be carried out and that we desire to comprehend within ourinvention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims andthe invention.

Having thus fully described our invention what (we claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tank for liquids having a filler opening therein, a cap hingedto said tank and adapted to open and close said opening and adapted tobe closed by movement of said tank, spring retaining means cooperatingwith said cap, means mounted on said cap for adjusting the compressionof said spring retaining means and for limiting the upward movement ofthe free end of said spring retaining means, and spring pressed lockingmeans pivoted to said tank and adapted to engage said spring retainingmeans to lock the cap in closed position upon its being closed.

2. In a tank for liquids having a filler opening therein, a neck aroundsaid opening, a ring at the upper end of said neck, means for securingsaid ring to said neck, a cap movably secured to said ring and adaptedto be closed by movement of said tank, locking means movably secured toone side of said ring, a spring retaining means secured at one end tothe opposite side of said ring and cooperating with said lock means tosecure said cap in closed position, a member on said cap and engagingsaid spring retaining means intermediate its ends to limit the downwardmovement of said spring retaining means, and means for adjusting thecompression of said spring retaining means.

3. In a tank for liquids having a filler opening therein, a neck aroundsaid opening, a ring at the upper end of said neck, a gasket betweensaid neck and ring to prevent leakage between them, removable meansengaging said neck for securing said ring to said neck, a gasket betweensaid ring and securing means to prevent leakage between them, lugs onsaid securing means for engagement by a tool for attaching the same tothe neck and removing the same therefrom, a cap hingedly secured to saidring for closing the opening in said tank by engagement with said meansfor securing the ring to the neck, a gasket between said cap and saidsecuring means to prevent leakage between them, and means for lookingsaid cap in closed position.

FREDERICK F. RIKE. HOWARD W. WEBB.

